The GRTU has set up a working team to study the proposals made in the White Paper on rent law reform, director-general Vince Farrugia said.

“There is no doubt that the publication of the White Paper is a step in the right direction in that Malta cannot continue to have its laws based on emergency measures, but the solutions which the White Paper proposes look like being a means to get the argument going,” Mr Farrugia told timesofmalta.com.

The reform, he said, would affect a huge swat of the business community.

“There appear to be some lacunae in the White Paper proposals, as in the case of businesses which pay a low rent but had paid a hefty “gift” to acquire the premises,” Mr Farrugia said.

He said the GRTU team would identify those areas which the White Paper had ignored as well as problems identified in others, such as rights of succession.

“We intend taking a lead in this matter, since it is our members who are most affected by the proposed reforms,” Mr Farrugia said, adding that he had already been inundated by calls and e-mails from members concerned by the proposals.